Page 152 - Historical Summaries (Persian Gulf) 1907-1953

24,
Dr. Thomson’s recommendations, so far as the
coast of Persia was concerned,0 wore limited
to perfecting the existing sanitary stations at
Mohammerah and Bushirc, and possibly im­
proving the station .at Bundor Abbas.
The Government of India, in a telegram dated Viceroy’*
tclograin of
the 0th February, 1907, expressed their agree­
February 6, 1907.
ment with Dr. Thomson’s recommendations, and
their willingness “ to hear, for the present, the
cost of necessary preliminary measures, including
supply of disaU'ecting apparatus at Gulf ports,
reserving right of subsequent recovery from the
Persian Government in case of Persian ports, and
subject, in the ease of ICowcit, to acquiescence of
Sheikh in proposed arrangement.” In April 1907 Sir 0. Spriug-Rioe
the British Minister at Tehran telegraphed that ApriTu and^V,
an attack might shortly be anticipated upon our 1907.
control of the quarantine in Southern Persia,
and that he trusted that steps would bo taken to
secure the maintenance of existing arrange­
ments. lie subsequently explained that his
apprehensions were based upon (1) the impend­
ing retirement of the President of the Tehran
Sanitary Council, who was friendly to British
interests, and the possibility of his being replaced
by some one hostile; and (2) tho frank hostility
shown towards our quarantine officers both by tho
Russian Consul at Bunder Abbas and by the
Belgian Customs officials. Sir C. Spring-ltico
recommended, in addition to the improvements
of the sanitary service on the lines indicated
in his despatch of tho 1st January, that a com­
munication should be made to the Russian
Government to the effect that, in view (1) of
the predominance of British trade and shipping;
(2) of the impossibility of securing an efficient
Persian service ; and (3) of the necessity for
good administration, His-Majesty’s Government
expected that the Russian Government; would
offer no objection to the continuance of the
present system.
His Majesty’s Government decided to postpone
making any representations to the Russian
Government until the estimates of the cost
of tho proposed improvements had been received
from tho Government of India.
The outbreak of plague at Bahrein in April
1907 brought into notico the deficiency in the
disinfecting equipment of the southern porta,
* Dr. Thomson also proposed the establishment of a station
at Koweit, on tho Arabian side of the Gulf.